Gordon's been managing the middle just fine

When it comes to the Yankees' bullpen, the story -- and the game -- usually ends with Mariano Rivera. However, the story often starts with Tom Gordon.

The Yankee setup man is feeling strong again after a shaky postseason, where in six appearances against Boston, covering 6 2/3 innings, Gordon allowed six runs. He followed that with a restful offseason and a strong spring training, despite a bout of dead arm in the final week. But the former Sox closer said his arm has never felt better as he and the Yankees wrapped up a three-game series with the Red Sox.

"What's really come back is my curveball," said Gordon, who was again treated rudely by his old team last night, giving up three hits and three earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. "I've got the good one back. It got harder to throw late last year because I was feeling some fatigue, but the rest has done me a lot of good. I got through the dead arm period and now I'm feeling great."

Gordon, 37, began his career as a starter with the Kansas City Royals in 1988. Entering this season, Gordon had appeared in 671 games, including 203 starts. Though he's lobbied to return to starting, his wishes have fallen on deaf ears, mainly because he's too valuable as the setup man.

"Before it's over, I want to start again," he said. "Either start or close. I feel now that I have three or four good pitches, I could make the transition back to a starter if I had time to get ready for it in spring training. Don't get me wrong, I love my role and my job here. We have a great team and after the disappointment of last season, we're all committed to coming together for a common goal. So I'm up for that.

"I think Joe [Torre] and Mel [Stottlemyre] know they can depend on me and I'll either get them to Mariano or close the game myself. But my goal, like I said, is to be a starter or be a closer. So we'll have to see what happens here in the future."

Gordon, who was selected to his second All-Star team last season, pitched a scoreless eighth to set up Rivera in Wednesday night's 5-2 win. After making 86 appearances last season, Gordon doesn't fear he'll get burned out.

"I don't think you can ever think that way," Gordon said. "Maybe that happens, but you get through it. It's your job to set up and close so you have to expect to be out there a lot. It's up to you to prepare for it and be true to yourself and your body. I'm always going to be honest with Joe. If I can't go that day, he's going to know. But it's not often that I can't take the ball. And now, like I said, my arm is feeling stronger than ever, so I'm ready physically for whatever is being thrown my way."

Gordon has played in three intense baseball markets in Boston, Chicago (with the White Sox and Cubs), and New York. While he enjoyed his time in Kansas City, the intensity could not match the bigger markets. Gordon got his first taste of the intensity of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry when he came to Boston in 1996. He was converted to a closer in '97 and led the AL with 46 saves in '98.

But that season, coupled with an All-Star team tour in Japan, might have taken its toll on Gordon's right elbow. After making only 21 appearances in '99 for the Sox, he missed all of 2000 and made a comeback with the Cubs the following year. An injury to his right triceps limited him to 34 appearances and no saves in '02.

"The reason I feel so strong now is because there were almost three years there where I didn't throw that much," Gordon said. "They were frustrating years but in the long run I've extended my career because of it."

Gordon, who lived in Braintree when he pitched for the Sox, said he's amazed how intense the rivalry has become. Torre said yesterday Gordon told the Yankee manager he tended to get too excited to pitch against the Red Sox because of the intense atmosphere, but that he has since settled down.

"There's nothing like it," Gordon said. "The fans are behind their team whether it's here or in New York. Of all the places I've pitched, nothing compares to the intensity here. The Red Sox also have the most disciplined lineup in the league. Baltimore's can be tough, but in terms of having to make the right pitch every time, you have to do it against Boston. I think with all of these games early on in the season in this rivalry . . . both teams will be ready to move on to the rest of the schedule."